Alexandrian Legacy: A Critical Appraisal

Description

This volume brings together contributions exploring a range of aspects of the Alexandrian patristic tradition from the second half of the second century to the first half of the fifth century, a tradition whose complex and significant legacy is at times misunderstood and, in some quarters, wholly neglected. With contributions by both Australian and international scholars, the fourteen chapters here highlight that, behind the complexity of this tradition, one finds a vibrant Christian spirit granted, one that has successfully put on the flesh of Hellenistic culture and a consistent striving towards the reformation and transformation of the human being according to the gospel. Furthermore, this volume contributes a nuanced voice to the scholarly choir which already hums a new song about Christian Alexandria and its representatives. Indeed, these contributions are interdisciplinary in approach, combining methods pertaining to the fields of historiography, theology and philosophy, pastoral care, hermeneutics, hagiography, and spirituality. By way of this complex approach, this book brings together areas which currently evolve in separate scholarly universes, which is wholly befitting to the complexities entailed by the ever-challenging Alexandrian legacy. List of Tables ............................................................................................... x Introduction ................................................................................................ xi Doru Costache, Philip Kariatlis, and Mario Baghos Part I Early Alexandrians Chapter I ...................................................................................................... 2 Hierarchy, Eldership, Isangelia: Clement of Alexandria and the Ascetic Tradition Bogdan G. Bucur Chapter II ................................................................................................... 46 Origen and Logocentrism: A Few Observations on a Recent Debate Vlad M. Niculescu Part II The Maturation of a Tradition: St Athanasius Chapter III ................................................................................................. 72 Athanasius’ Letters to Serapion: Resource for a Twenty-First Century Theology of God the Trinity Denis Edwards Chapter IV ................................................................................................. 93 The Gift of Receptivity: St Athanasius on the Security of Salvation Adam G. Cooper Chapter V ................................................................................................ 110 Soteriological Insights in St Athanasius’ On the Incarnation Philip Kariatlis Chapter VI ............................................................................................... 122 The Chora Within: Unveiling Asceticism in St Athanasius’ Life of St Antony Andrew Mellas Chapter VII .............................................................................................. 139 The Traditional Portrayal of St Athanasius according to Rufinus, Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret Mario Baghos Part III Furthering the Legacy: St Cyril Chapter VIII ............................................................................................ 174 The Festal Letters of the Patriarchs of Alexandria: Evidence for Social History in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries Pauline Allen Chapter IX ............................................................................................... 190 The Philosophical Theology of St Cyril’s Against Julian David Bradshaw Chapter X ................................................................................................ 207 St Cyril on the Priesthood of Christ and the Old Testament Jonathan Douglas Hicks Chapter XI ............................................................................................... 228 St Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, and Pastoral Care Pauline Allen Chapter XII .............................................................................................. 246 Ecclesial Memory and Secular History in the Conflicting Representations of St Cyril of Alexandria Mario Baghos Part IV Alexandria within Tradition Chapter XIII ............................................................................................ 282 Worldview and Melodic Imagery in the Alexandrian Tradition and Certain Patristic Antecedents Doru Costache Chapter XIV ............................................................................................ 322 Adam’s Holiness in the Alexandrine and Athonite Traditions Doru Costache Bibliography ............................................................................................ 369 Contributors ............................................................................................. 407 Index of Premodern, Non-Biblical Authors and Texts ............................ 411 Thematic Index ........................................................................................ 413